Responsible Pet Ownership Blog

Category Archives: pet emergency kit

If your dog disappears during a natural disaster or an accident, or while you are away, it’s a good idea to have an easily accessible Dog Identification Kit. This will help you reunite with your pet if he wanders off in fear, gets lost, or is injured and found by someone else.

Your dog may be frightened and confused. In dire situations such as earthquakes or hurricanes, wandering animals might be brought to rescue sites or taken in by caring strangers until the dog’s family can be found.

Natural disasters can destroy homes and cut off regular communication, making contact with the dog’s family difficult or even impossible. Having proof of who your dog is will make it easier to alert people that you are looking for a specific animal and help you get your beloved pet back to his family again, wherever you are.

Obviously, identification tags with contact information may be important for a dog to wear, but not all owners opt to have their dogs wear these, and they can also fall off. Having an identification kit as a backup is a smart idea for a responsible pet owner who wants to make sure their dog is safe and easier to find if lost.

I live in Tornado Alley, and when I bought my home one of the most important considerations was a basement. I wanted a secure area where I could leave my pets when it was stormy and I was at work. Emergencies can happen at any time, day or night, but too many families don’t consider what might happen until a disaster is at their front door.

Practicing how you will handle certain kinds of emergencies can make a difference. Practice makes perfect, and when you know what to do and where to go, panic doesn’t take over your mind. Practice gives you knowledge, and knowledge gives you the power and strength to move quickly in an emergency.

Having a plan is one of the best ways to keep yourself, your family and your pets safe in an emergency. Teaching kids what to do when they’re home alone may not ease fears in an emergency, but it can help to keep them calmer so they can follow a plan instead of racing around trying to think what they should do and frantically searching for pets that may be hiding or forgetting about them altogether.

Pets have certain places in their home where they feel the most comfortable and safe. Some prefer a secluded place like under the bed or tucked away in a closet. It’s important for everyone to know your pet’s favorite places because most likely, that’s where you’ll find them if they’re hiding. Cats and dogs are pros at picking up how we are feeling and if we have anxiety and are frightened, they understand it. So it’s important to know all of the possible hiding places your pet could go if they’re scared. You can’t count on them answering you if they’re frightened. Pets can freeze up with fear just like people can do.

You never know when a natural or man-made disaster will occur. Perhaps you already have a family disaster kit stashed somewhere, but what about your pets? To prepare for something that is unexpected and unpredictable, you should plan ahead by putting together your own pet emergency kit. Use some of these tips to get started.

A Container for Your Pet Emergency Kit

To keep all of your supplies in one place, you will need some type of container. A lidded box, backpack or duffle bag can hold your pet emergency kit and keep all items together and ready. Protect your kit from water damage (in the event of flooding) by putting all emergency kit items inside a plastic garbage bag, tie it tightly, and then put the bag into your container. Be sure to label your container “pet emergency kit” with a permanent marker. Mark it prominently in more than one spot.

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Disclaimer

The personal opinions and/or use of trade, firm, corporation or brand names, in this blog is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by CANIDAE® Natural Pet Food Company of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. All opinions in this blog are those of the individual authors and not necessarily of CANIDAE® Natural Pet Food Company.